THAT WE CAN FLEX INTO. TODAY I AM ISSUING A SAFER-AT-HOME ORDER REQUIRING ALL VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO STAY-AT-HOME UNTIL APRIL 30 EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL SUCH AS GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE OR THE PHARMACY. EFFECTIVE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT I’M ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER RESTRICTING GATHERINGS OF 10 OR MORE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR STATE. THE BUSINESSES HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB UP TO THIS POINT, BUT I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE NEED FOR US TO CONTINUE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON’T GET IN GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE. THAT IS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT IS THIS IS ARE ALREADY STARTING TO DO. WE NEED ALL OKLAHOMANS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, I AM TAKING AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO PRESERVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND P, THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THA HEALTHCARE WORKERS USE BY ISSUING A 14 DAY SUSPENSION OF ALL ELECTIVE SURGERIES, MINOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES, AND NON-EMERGENCY DENTAL PROCEDURES. TO PROTECT OUR EDITOR -- ELDERLY, WE ARE SUSPENDING ALL VISITATION TO NURSING HOMES AND LONG CARE FACILITIES EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. I AM ORDERING THE FOLLOWING MEASURES IN THE 1 COUNTIES WHERE WE HAVE A CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASE. WE HAVE THE COUNTY MAP UP THERE. IN ALL OF THE COUNTIES, WE HAVE 19 COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA WITH A POSITIVE CASE. IN THOSE COUNTIES, ALL NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES MUST CLOSE BY 11: TOMORROW AND IT REMAINED CLOSED FOR 21 DAYS. THESE INCLUDE BUSINESSES WITH CLOSE CONTACT OR PERSONAL TOUCH LIKE HAIR SALONS, GYMS, THEATERS, MASSAGE PARLORS, TATTOO PARLORS, AND WE WILL PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THAT. I ENCOURAGE RESTAURANTS TO REMAIN OPE WHILE OFFERING CURBSIDE, PICKUP, AND DELIVERY. ALL OKLAHOMANS HAVE A JOB TO DO RIGHT NOW. IF YOU ARE FEELING SICK OR YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS SICK, PLEASE STA HOME. ISOLATE YOURSELF. AS A COMMUNITY AND STATE, WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND I WILL BE ANNOUNCING A NEW WAY OKLAHOMANS CAN WORK THROUGH MY BE A NEIGHBOR INITIATIVE TO COORDINATE WAYS WE CAN SERVE EACH OTHER DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FIND A WAY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE LEARNING AFTER APRIL 6. I WANT TO THANK THE CAFETERIA WORKERS, THE CHILD NUTRITION TEAMS WHO HAVE BEEN OFFERING GRAB AND GO MEALS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED THEM. MIKE SOLUTIONS TASK FORCE IS WORKING ON A NUMBER OF THINGS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND RESPOND AGGRESSIVELY. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY TEAM TO DESIGN AND DEPLOY A PLAN TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN HOSPITALS FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE OUR RESOURCES TO PROTECT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND THE PATIENTS WHO NEED THEM. WE WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT THOSE HOSPITALS IN THE COMING DAYS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH OKLAHOMANS. I DON’T MAKE THESE DECISIONS LIGHTLY. I KNOW THIS AFFECTS ALL 4 MILLION OKLAHOMANS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS TRYING TO SUPPORT THREE CHILDREN WHO WORKS PAYCHECK-TO-PAYCHECK AND FROM NO FAULT OF HER OWN I NOW ON UNEMPLOYMENT. WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, OKLAHOMA. WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUGH T

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday clarified the types of surgeries and procedures that are considered elective to be suspended under his executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic.Stitt issued the order Tuesday to postpone all elective surgeries and minor medical procedures until April 7. He clarified on Friday that any type of abortion services that are not a medical emergency or otherwise necessary to prevent serious health risks to the unborn child’s mother are included in the executive order.>> Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Latest local updatesIt also includes routine dermatological, ophthalmological, and dental procedures, as well as most scheduled healthcare procedures such as orthopedic surgeries, Stitt said. Stitt said the rapid spread of COVID-19 has increased demands for hospital beds and has created a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to protect health care professionals and stop transmission of the virus. “We must ensure that our health care professionals, first responders and medical facilities have all of the resources they need to combat COVID-19,” Gov. Stitt said. “I am committed to doing whatever necessary to protect those who are on the front lines fighting against this virus.”

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday clarified the types of surgeries and procedures that are considered elective to be suspended under his executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stitt issued the order Tuesday to postpone all elective surgeries and minor medical procedures until April 7. He clarified on Friday that any type of abortion services that are not a medical emergency or otherwise necessary to prevent serious health risks to the unborn child’s mother are included in the executive order.

It also includes routine dermatological, ophthalmological, and dental procedures, as well as most scheduled healthcare procedures such as orthopedic surgeries, Stitt said.

Stitt said the rapid spread of COVID-19 has increased demands for hospital beds and has created a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to protect health care professionals and stop transmission of the virus.

“We must ensure that our health care professionals, first responders and medical facilities have all of the resources they need to combat COVID-19,” Gov. Stitt said. “I am committed to doing whatever necessary to protect those who are on the front lines fighting against this virus.”